Tony Bellew has assessed Filip Hrgovic’s chances of pulling off a sizable upset against Moses Itauma, similar to how Joe Joyce stopped Daniel Dubois in their crossroads encounter.
Back then, in 2020, the unbeaten Dubois was heavily favoured to complete his acid test and become an immediate household name, or at least one of British boxing’s brightest stars.
As it happened, though, the more experienced Joyce was able to absorb his artillery and apply a punishing jab, resulting in a 10th-round stoppage victory for the ‘Juggernaut’.
But while a similar outcome could, in theory, unfold between Itauma and Hrgovic, many would argue that the 13-years-younger man is ready for such a stiff assignment.
Indeed, Itauma has looked mightily impressive thus far, especially in his five-round beatdown of the typically durable Jermaine Franklin this past March.
Hrgovic, meanwhile, is considered a significant step-up in class, whose only defeat came after he was stopped on cuts in round eight of his 2024 clash with Dubois.
From a stylistic perspective, however, former world champion Bellew has told Fight Your Corner that he sees Itauma taking care of business in emphatic fashion.
“I [see it] 80/20 [in Itauma’s favour]. This is the moment that Daniel Dubois faced when he faced Joe Joyce. This is that [type of] fight. And I think we’re going to find out about Moses, but I just believe the style [of Hrgovic] is perfect [for Itauma].
“And because Filip’s so stand-up-straight-and-gets-hit, I think he gets cleaned out.”
With Itauma facing Hrgovic at London’s O2 Arena this evening, the 21-year-old is bidding to claim the vacant IBF title and, in turn, become the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson dethroned Trevor Berbick in 1986.
